Reminders: Do as little as possible- try to keep your right hand relaxed and don't move or flail it over the strings.
GOLDEN RULE: play as slowly as you can to keep a steady tempo AND change between the chords without stopping your strumming.
GOLDEN RULE: play as slowly as you can to keep a steady tempo AND change between the chords without stopping your strumming.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
Very Slow: 40-50 bpm (Zzzzzzz)
Slow: 50-70 bpm (zone out / chill)
Moderate to Fast: 70-100 bpm (tap feet / energize)
Very Fast: 100-180 bpm (rev it up / on fire)
Basic Strumming: Strums mark the beats of a song and generally repeat creating a specific strum pattern over the length of a song. Remember, there is not a pause between beats 4 and 1 of a new measure. (Web Metronome & Metronome Online)
Simple Strum 2: The Ups & Downs of Life
The down strums still mark the 1, 2, 3, 4 beats of the song. The up strums split the count in half to...
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...d u, d u, d u, d u, d u, d u, d u, d u...
New Strum Patterns
are created by leaving out some of the down or up strokes in the Simple
Strum 2 pattern: d u, d u, d u, d u, ... The down strums will always
mark the 1, 2, 3, 4 beats of a measure while the ups will mark the
&s. Timing is important here so keep using the metronome to help
keep the pace. Use the Web Metronome
as you can set it for any tempo, add in beats per cycle, AND click on
any of the beats to accent it. Tap your foot along to the metronome to
help mark the beat for those times you want to turn that darn beep,
beep, beep off.
NOTES: Stronger
strums will be marked with an uppercase D or U to accent it in your
playing. The strongest beats to strum are usually the 1 and 3 beats
though some rock & roll, ska, or reggae songs accent the 2 and 4
"off beats" or "backbeats". Try both as you practice to see the
difference
-- will be used to note a strum that you skip.
-- will be used to note a strum that you skip.
* * * * *
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, d u, d u, d u, D --, d u, d u, d u...
Strum Pattern 2: d --, d --, d u, d u marks the first 2 beats of a measure with 2 down strums to help set the beat.
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, D --, d u, d u, D --, D --, d u, d u...
Strum Pattern 3: d --, d u, d --, d u (EzFolk Audio Example) marks the 1st and 3rd beats of a measure with a single down strum to drive the beat like in country music.
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, d u, d --, d u, D --, d u, d --, d u...
Strum Pattern 4: d --, d --, d --, d u (EzFolk Audio Example) marks the first 3 beats of a measure with down strums and sounds a lot like a march.
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, d --, d --, d u, D --, d --, d --, d u...
Strum Pattern 5: "Old Faithful" d --, d u, -- u, d -- (EzFolk Audio Example) marks the first and last beats of a measure with a single down strum but misses the 3rd beat to have two ups together. It works well with a lot of songs and is the go-to strum for the uke.
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, d u, -- u, d --, D --, d u, -- u, d --...
5a: Vary it up by adding an up at the end of the 4th beat (EzFolk Audio Example)
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, d u, -- u, d u, D --, d u, -- u, d u...
5b: Vary the order a bit and you'll get a great driving beat (EzFolk Audio Example)
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...d u, d u, -- u, d u, d u, d u, -- u, d u...
Strum Pattern 6: d --, d u, -- u, -- u makes for a pattern that flies you up, up, up, and away to Hawaii for a great island feel.
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...D --, d u, -- u, -- u, D --, d u, -- u, -- u...
6a: replace the first D -- with a down up... d u, d u, u, u...
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...d u, d u, -- u, -- u, d u, d u, -- u, -- u...
6b: d u, -- u, -- u, d u
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 4 &...
...d u, -- u, -- u, d u, d u, -- u, -- u, d u...
Strum Pattern 7: d --, d u, -- --, d u leaves longer gaps between strums, creating a tricky yet fun rhythm.
...D --, d u, -- --, d u, D --, d u, -- --, d
Shall We Dance?- Strums in 3/4 "Waltz Time"
3/4 Strum #1: d --, d u, d u (Ukulele Hunt Audio Example)
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &...
...d --, d u, d u, d --, d u, d u...
3/4 Strum #2: d --, d u, d-- (Ukulele Hunt Audio Example)
...1 &, 2 &, 3 &, 1 &, 2 &, 3 &...
...d --, d u, d --, d --, d u, d --...
..
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